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It’s Christmas Jumper Day on 16 December, but don’t leave it to the last minute to buy yours! That’s the advice from our lifestyle editor Lara Nugent, (back right). She missed out last year because the shops had sold out! She was devastated. I wasn’t – as you’ll notice from my absence in the Team best picture. Like Gogglebox star Stephen Webb (page 14), I am the Christmas Grinch when it comes to this trend. Not so the rest of the office, like our features editor Sarah Whiteley, in her ‘Pull Me’ sweater (you’ve just got married, Sarah)! So are you a fan of a festive jumper or do you find them, well, a bit of a knit-mare? • Let us know your thoughts on facebook.com/bestmagazine EXECUTIVE EDITOR SIOBHAN WYKES…

TOP TIP Fabulous quality at a budget price, this could well be our buy of the winter season. TOP TIP Invest in a classic velvet suit that could be a wardrobe saviour Christmas after Christmas! TOP TIP Perfect together or as a jacket over a dress with a chunky knit, you can’t beat a suit’s versatility.…

What can the doctor do? Q My husband wants to get a PSA blood test done to check for prostate cancer. He is 50 years old and well. Can a GP do that? A A GP can do that, but only if it’s necessary. PSA is a blood test that can be abnormal in prostate cancer. But it also goes up in lots of other non-cancer situations, such as infections, so it is not a good way to screen for prostate cancer. Your husband should look out for symptoms of prostate trouble such as changes to his urine stream or waking at night for the loo. These should always be discussed with a GP. Time to swallow a new pill Q My doctor wants me to start on blood thinners…

Some people can eat as much bread, pasta and rice as they like without it affecting their weight, while others find it hard to stay slim without restricting them, according to new research by geneticist Dr Sharon Moalem. THE ‘CRACKER TEST’ Chew an unsalted cracker and note how long it takes for its taste to change from bland to sweet. • If it takes 14 seconds or less, you’re a FULL CARB TYPE, which means your digestive system copes well with carbohydrates, and 50 per cent of the calories you eat each day can be made up of carbs (in addition to 20 per cent protein and 30 per cent fat). • If it takes 15 to 30 seconds, you’re a MODERATE CARB TYPE, and should eat no more than…

The shop assistant smiled at me as I approached her till. ‘Your kids are going to be happy this Christmas,’ she remarked as she scanned a television, laptop and iPad. I smiled but, even as I handed over my credit card, I knew I shouldn’t be doing it. Not only were there already piles of presents at home, but I was in thousands of pounds’ worth of debt. I hadn’t always been interested in shopping. Before my mum, Diane, died, I allowed myself the odd spree, but that was it. I was a devoted wife and mum to Rose*, now 12, and William*, 11, and my family was far more important to me than material stuff. But then, in March 2006, my lovely mum was killed in a horrific car…

…appearing at the Royal Variety Performance I am really looking forward to it, it should be great. I don’t know which Royal is coming yet – but I’m hoping it’s Prince Charles, as he’s a member of the Magic Circle, so I bet he’ll get involved. As a member of the Royal Household Cavalry, I see the Royals all the time, but I’ve never actually met him. …his new found fame It hasn’t really changed my life that much, but I have some really odd fan mail. One person wanted to know if they could have the socks I wore for the BGT final – I have no idea why, there was nothing special about them. …making things disappear I hate queues, and the other day I did some work…

WIN 1 X £200, 2 X £100 OR 3 X £50 PR IZES STRAIGHT CLUES ACROSS 7 Errors (8) 9 Uses up money (6) 10 Lacking speed (4) 11 Making out (10) 12 From Bern, e.g. (5) 14 Ancient Roman language (5) 15 Place where ships are moored up (4) 16 Remain (4) 17 Heals (5) 18 Clever ruse (5) 23 Using bodily force (10) 24 Spindle (4) 25 Extract (6) 26 Uncertain, dubious (8) DOWN 1 Head cushion (6) 2 Cook slowly in liquid (4) 3 Large rubbish bins (5) 4 Posed a question (5) 5 Leading teacher (10) 6 One’s name, etc. (8) 8 Observes, spots (4) 13 Sequence (10) 15 Female child (8) 19 Hue, tint (6) 20 Threaded fastener (5) 21 Took flight (4) 22 Sweet…

Did you know? Chris, 40. got engaged to Tony Butland on the Eiffel Tower in Paris last year. A few months later, Stephen, 45, popped the question to partner Daniel Lustig in India. Chris loves festive feasting… Festive feasting I absolutely love Christmas dinner – turkey, roast potatoes, Brussels sprouts – I know some people hate them, but I say, ‘Bring them on!’ And pigs in blankets – they are amazing. I’m not big on Christmas pudding, but when we were kids my mum would make a Christmas cake and us kids would all try and get the layers of icing and marzipan and I still like that now. Christmas trees These days mine are all singing, all dancing. They look like an OTT drag queen. I’ve always loved them–…

Singer Cheryl, 33, sent fans into meltdown last week when, at the Fayre of St James Christmas Carol Concert in London, with boyfriend Liam Payne, 23, she proudly displayed what looked like a ‘baby bump’ in a figurehugging dress. Pregnancy rumours have swirled around the former Girls Aloud member since the summer, and we think she looks ‘blooming marvellous’! The star has spoken out about her deep-seated wish to become a mum in the past. ‘I love kids,’ she said. ‘I’m obsessed with babies. Of course, I’ve thought about baby names a millon times. I like Alfie for a little boy. ‘I know that is what I was put on earth to do – to be a mother.’ When asked to confirm or deny the pregnancy rumours, her publicist told…

Best ON Test TOP TIP! After application, blot the area with a thin tissue to prevent the concealer settling in the creases. Best rated: Excellent ***** Very good **** OK *** Almost there ** Bad *…

JOIN THE CONVERSATION Cut the cost of Christmas The festive season is always an expensive one, and if you’re anything like us, you’re already feeling the pinch. So, if someone said you could get Christmas for almost free, you’d think they were pulling your leg, right? But that’s exactly what coupon queen Cal Holder claims you can do – and she does. The 40-yearold Brummie bargain-hunter uses promotions, coupons from the local papers and discounts from websites such as moneysavingexpert.com to save on everything, from skincare products to the turkey. The only down side? It takes so much time and effort, she’s had to give up her fulltime job and starts her scans for deals at 4.30 every morning! Would you go to those lengths for a freebie? WHAT DO…

Festive flare Horizontal stripes combined with a flared style can be oh-so slimming. Take on trousers Perfect for petites, a disguised block heel will add height. TOP TIP Stripes don’t have to be casual – add metallic and glitter for a glamorous take on the trend. Two to tango If you can’t find the perfect dress, the right top and skirt can look just as fab. Break-up block Divert attention from your tummy with a block colour on top.…

As this year’s X Factor nears its end, judge Louis Walsh confesses he’s desperate to get one over on Simon, and win with his group 5 After Midnight. Do you think you have the winning act? I believe 5 After Midnight could do it, but they have some strong competition. I’m desperate to win, but everyone has upped their game of late. Saara (Aalto) has come from nowhere. She’s now the dark horse, and she works so damn hard. She is the surprise of the competition for me. She was the underdog from Finland, who now ticks every box for me. She could win. ‘I don’t think Simon has a chance of winning!’ Which X Factor judge has the winning act? Louis Walsh gives us his opinion Could 5 After…

Say cheese! Last year’s most unwanted gift was the selfie stick. Returning goods bought online If you’re returning a gift to an online retailer, most, such as Amazon, have a dedicated address – print off a return form. Get proof of postage from the Post Office or use Collect+ or myHermes, as it takes away the hassle. If you’ve bought something online, then changed your mind, you’re covered by Distance Selling Regulations, meaning you have the right to return goods with no reason up to seven working days after you receive them. However, you may be liable for postage costs. If returning anything faulty, never pay for postage. Some shops, like John Lewis or Debenhams, offer exchanges and refunds for online purchases in store – just take along the despatch…

‘For my sister, Tracy, to have the best Christmas ever’ ‘You can scare yourself stupid if you think about the cancer too much, so you don’t. You just live’ Carol McGiffin was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer in April 2014. After six rounds of chemotherapy, 15 doses of radiotherapy and a mastectomy on the left side, she was pronounced ‘clear of cancer’, and went on to have two ‘sickness-free’ Christmas Days. But Carol, 56, now has a new battle on her hands – supporting her sister as she, too, fights the disease – which, in Tracy’s case, is incurable… Carol’s story  ‘Cancer is scary, but I don’t see the point of getting emotional about it. So when my sister, Tracy, found a lump in her left breast – just like…

Christmas is all about family – it’s a holiday for love, for spending with the people you care about. But that’s why it can be so tinged with sadness and reflection, as well as joy – inevitably, you think about the people who are no longer with you. I’ve always felt a little bit melancholic around Christmas, to be honest. I can’t help thinking about those who are really lonely and don’t have anyone to spend the holiday with. I’m so lucky – I have a large family, and our parents always made Christmas so magical. Of course, you notice absences round the dinner table. I think about my sister, Bernie, every day, but it’s particularly poignant around this time. [Bernie died, aged 52, in July 2013]. She’d probably give…

‘I can’t wait for the wrap party – we go absolutely mental!’ THE WRAP PARTY The Strictly wrap party’s always so funny. We really let our hair down. I think I misbehaved a bit last time – I don’t know if they’ll let me in this year! I do recall a very passionate dance with Claudia to heavy dance music. We went absolutely mental. Lucky Kevin? Kevin Clifton’s nickname is ‘the fertility king’ (two previous dance partners fell pregnant after Strictly!) and Louise has said, ‘Maybe he’s the good luck charm I need to get that baby girl I really want.’ Maybe their bodies are at their peak, and that’s more to do with it! ADRENALINE RISING The final’s getting tantalisingly close now. Who will take the glitterball trophy? In the studio, you…

Changes in your vision can be one of the first signs of ageing you really feel – as you realise you can no longer put off that prescription for reading glasses! But there are, in fact, many alterations to your vision that can come with age, and some can be very serious. Here’s what you need to know... BLURRED LINES Becoming longsighted, known medically as presbyopia, is a normal feature of ageing that leads us all to need reading glasses. It is thought to be due to a thickening and a loss of flexibility in the natural eye lens. Adults should have their eyes checked every two years by an optician, but you may notice signs yourself – such as blurred vision when reading or writing – from your early…

Pinterest is going crazy for this frankly genius recipe which blends two of our favourite things: Red wine and chocolate. This delicious boozy version of hot chocolate blends a measure of Grenache, 3tbsp cocoa powder, cinnamon, sugar and whole and condensed milk for a creamy, warming beverage with a sinful kick! For extra decadence, sprinkle a generous amount of mini marshmallows over the top. Will it give you a hangover? Better have a few to find out! Find it at pinterest.com Trending on Twitter #1MillionMinutes More than a million older people are chronically lonely so, to spread some Christmas kindness, Good Morning Britain has teamed up with several charities to encourage us to donate just 30 minutes of our time to help an older person. Join in at ITV.com FIND…

For most of us, Christmas is a great excuse to indulge in the goodies we try so hard to avoid for the rest of the year – and there are so many tasty ways to celebrate the season. If you fancy taking some homemade creations to a family gathering or on a visit to friends, here are my top three ideas for treats that are a little bit naughty but ever so nice… Claire Richards xx HOW TO MAKE IT 385g plain flour 1tsp baking powder 227g unsalted butter 200g caster sugar 1 large egg 1tsp vanilla extract Fondant icing (around half a pack) Strawberry laces Edible ink pens – 1 black and 1 orange Packet of marshmallows 1 tube ready-to-use black icing Preparation Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F and…

Close pals Michael Ball, 54, and tenor Alfie Boe, 43, have joined their musical talents together for a tour and an album, as well as their TV spectacular. How did the two of you decide to join forces? M: Initially, it was just going to be the idea of touring together, and that grew into an album. So if you like the album, it was my idea; if you don’t, it was Alfie’s! Tell us about your ITV special, what can we expect? M: Have you ever been to a TV recording when no retakes had to be done? Well, that was us. We obviously perform songs from Les Misérables because that’s in our DNA, but there are some surprises. A: We had such a laugh making the album, and…

This Morning’s Holly Willoughby, 35, and Phillip Schofield, 54, make for great TV, especially when they are having a fit of the giggles. We caught up with Holly at the recent ITV Gala, and she was happy to reveal what she’s up to this Christmas. ‘I have my family over on Christmas Day, then my husband Dan’s family on Boxing Day. And I’ve done all my cooking already!’ she said. ‘I’ve also nearly wrapped all my presents. Organised or what?’ But Christmas in the Willoughby household doesn’t always go swimmingly. One year, they narrowly avoided a festive meltdown with Harry, seven, who was going through ‘his blue phase’. ‘He wanted to eat from a blue plate, drink from a blue cup, and he wanted a blue bike,’ said Holly. Did…